In a major crackdown on narcotics-linked finances, the Delhi Police has frozen properties worth over Rs 30 lakh allegedly acquired through drug trafficking by a known offender, Vijay Kumar, who has been declared a ‘Bad Character’ by the Bharat Nagar police station, officials said on Monday.
The police said that the action followed the arrest of 22-year-old Nitin Badhwan, Kumar’s son, who was caught on February 15 with 365 grams of heroin and Rs 1.88 lakh in cash during a raid at his residence in JJ Colony, Wazirpur. A case was registered under Sections 21 and 25 of the NDPS Act at Bharat Nagar police station.
During interrogation, Badhwan confessed that he was working at the behest of his father. Acting on the lead, police arrested Vijay Kumar on May 20, a senior officer said.
“Investigators from the Northwest district’s Operation Cell later unearthed a financial trail pointing to drug money laundered into assets. Three two-wheelers and one property, collectively valued at more than ₹30 lakh, were found to have been purchased through illicit proceeds,” the officer mentioned in his statement.
These assets were seized under Section 68-F(1) of the NDPS Act, 1985, and the seizure order was forwarded to the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Revenue at Lok Nayak Bhawan for final approval.
When summoned for a financial probe, Vijay Kumar failed to justify his ownership with legitimate documents, prompting authorities to order the freezing of his assets.
The Competent Authority under the SAFEM (FOP) Act and NDPS Act has circulated the freezing order to the District Revenue Officer, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, and the Regional Transport Office. The order strictly prohibits any sale or purchase of the identified assets without prior approval.
Police said, “Kumar has been active in the drug trade for the last seven years and is involved in at least 11 criminal cases, including five under the NDPS Act. His son, Nitin Badhwan, has been supplying drugs for the past three years.”
The officer further emphasised that the financial crackdown is aimed at choking the economic backbone of organised narcotics networks operating in Delhi.